Online Versus Offline Media
Adding a media file to a Motion project creates a link between the resulting image layer
in Motion and its corresponding media file on disk. If you move, delete, or rename media
files on disk, the linked layers in Motion go offline. Media can also go offline if you give
someone a project file without also providing the source media it uses.
Offline layers appear as checkered rectangles that occupy the entire bounding box of
the missing image.
When a layer goes offline, a question mark icon appears beside the empty preview
thumbnail in the Layers list.
Icon indicates that media
is offline.
In the Media list, a question mark icon replaces the missing preview thumbnail.
Offline media
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When you open a project file with offline media, a dialog appears listing all files that can’t
be found. If the media was moved to another folder or disk instead of being deleted, you
might be able to locate them on your computer using the offline media Search feature.
If you know the location of the missing media, you can display a manual reconnection
dialog and navigate to the files without searching. If the file was renamed, you must
locate it manually.
To manually reconnect an offline file
1
In the alert dialog, click Reconnect.
In the manual reconnection dialog that appears, navigate to the location of the missing
file.
2
Select the file, then click Open.
The file is reconnected. If more than one missing media file appears in the same folder,
all files are reconnected.
If you can’t find the file manually, use the offline media Search feature.
To search for and reconnect offline media files
1
In the alert dialog, click Search.
Motion attempts to find the first missing file in the list. If the search is successful, a dialog
shows the missing media file.
2
Select the file, then click Open to reconnect it.
If the search is unsuccessful, use the manual reconnection dialog to navigate to the file.
When you locate it, select the file, then click Open.
To cancel an active search
1
Click Cancel.
The manual reconnection dialog appears.
2
In the dialog, navigate to the file’s location, select the file, then click Open.
The file is reconnected.
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To restore offline media using the Reconnect button
1
In the alert dialog, click Reconnect.
A manual reconnection dialog appears.
2
In the dialog, navigate to the file’s location, select the file, then click Open.
The file is reconnected.
If you do not immediately reconnect an offline layer, you can still save changes to the
project and even close it again, then reconnect the offline layers later, via the Reconnect
Media File button in the Media Inspector
To reconnect offline media via the Media Inspector
1
Open the Media list.
2
Select the offline layer to reconnect.
3
Open the Media pane in the Inspector.
4
Click the Reconnect Media File button under the Linked Objects list.
Motion attempts to find the first missing file in the list. If it is found, a file dialog appears
with the missing media file selected. If the search is unsuccessful, you navigate manually
to file’s location, then select the file.
5
Click Open to reconnect the file.
Note: You can also use the File > Reconnect Media command.
If more than one missing media file appears in the same folder, clicking Open reconnects
all files.